RSS 2.0 FeedDecember 9, 2009, Featured Articles, Classical
Retro confection: "Fruitcake" is yummy
When the Heartland Men's Chorus rolled out a kitchen set complete with the late Julia Child (played to perfection by Ron Williams) I knew I was in for a treat. The tasty piece "Fruitcake" was a fascinating mix of musical ingredients sung by the different sections of the Choir, overlapping in cannon. Sung together with "Christmas is Delicious" and "It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year," I ate it all up with a spoon.
It was "two, two, two concerts in one" last Friday night at the Folly Theatre. The Heartland Men's Chorus looking polished in blue vests, bow ties and boutonnieres sang a traditional carol program in the first half, followed by....wow. Keep reading.
Never having been to a HMC concert before, I wasn't sure what to expect. The first half was pleasantly predictable. Sounding a bit like the Harvard glee club, the all male chorus, accompanied by cello, harp and grand piano presented well sung traditional arrangements of songs for the season. The Morten Lauridsen piece Ave Dulcissima Maria was particularly lush and well blended and the Three Hanukkah songs arranged by Charles Baker sounded strong and heroic.
The Holly and the Ivy was "conducted" by Bobbi Schreiber who had the highest bid for the honor at the HMC annual fundraiser, A Dinner of Note. In a stunning, sparkly red shirt, she waved her hands in an adorably inaccurate two pattern, confusing the Chorus in a delightful way. Conductor, Dr. Joesph P. Nadeau had better luck with this group he so expertly prepared. Special mention must be given to sign language interpreter, Rick McAdams who uses his hands, face and body in an engaging, musical way.
When the Chorus rolled out a kitchen set complete with the late Julia Child (played to perfection by Ron Williams) I knew I was in for a treat. Concocting the fruitcake from a special recipe for holiday cheer, Julia occasionally sipped from an oversized wine glass. The tasty piece Fruitcake by Hageman and Leka, was a fascinating mix of musical ingredients sung by the different sections of the Choir, overlapping in cannon. Sung together with Christmas is Delicious and It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year, I ate it all up with a spoon.
It wasn't until the second half, when the scrim descended and a cozy living room complete with chandeliers and fireplace was projected, that I realized I had been transported into a 1970's Christmas Special.
The Very Special Christmas Special was a clever amalgamation of some of the weirdest retro Christmas variety show moments. Narrator, Tom Lancaster, played the surprisingly well adjusted Bernard. Growing up in Los Angeles, the product of a Hollywood divorce, he spent too much time watching old Christmas Specials on VHS while drinking mint juleps with his screenwriter mother. This premise links all of the wonderfully silly pieces that make up the second half. Who but the Heartland Men's Chorus could assemble 12 people capable of recreating the voices of John Denver and the Muppets so perfectly? Standouts from this half included Miss Piggy (Anthony Francisco), Bing Crosby (Keith Wiedenkeller), and Princess Leia (Kelly Marzett).
The oddest part was hearing Handel's Alleluia Chorus sung over fuzzy footage of Dynasty divas Krystle and Alexis, as they beat the bejeebers out of each other. Explained as, what happens when you try to tape the Mormon Tabernacle Choir over an old episode of Dynasty, the effect was surreal. Maybe that was pushing it a little far but I appreciate artists who aren't afraid to take risks.
Overall, the concert offered audiences the best of both Christmas worlds, traditional and wacky retro. I wish I could go back for a second helping. Fruitcake never tasted so good.
REVIEW:
The Heartland Men's Chorus
Fruitcake
Reviewed December 4, 2009
The Folly Theatre
12th and Central, Downtown Kansas City, MO
for more information visit www.hmckc.org
Top photo: Tom Lancaster as "Bernard."
Classical, Vocal and Theatre Contributor
Megan Browne Helm grew up singing, dancing and acting. Inspired by Emma Kirkby as a high school student in St. Louis she went on to study voice and sing with the Collegium Musicum at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio where she also had a radio show of contemporary classical music on WOBC. At the University of Kansas she had the pleasure of working with former Kings’ Singer, Simon Carrington in his Collegium Musicum and Oread consort. Years later, she was a choral fellow at the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. She is currently singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus under the direction of Charles Bruffy.
As a freelance music and culture writer her work can be found on KCMetropolis.org, presentmagazine.com, the Lawrence Journal World, Shawnee Magazine, Leawood Lifestyle Magazine and KC Parent. She was one of 26 journalists in the country chosen as a NEA Institute Fellow for Classical Music and Opera at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Her current interest is how classical music remains relevant through active collaborations with artists in different fields, including science. She also sees a connection between classical music, travel and food as a way to engage all of the senses in a 360 degree cultural experience. She blogs at raworganum.wordpress.com.
More Featured Articles
KC Events this week and beyond
Looking for something to do this weekend? Click here for the KC Events calendar of theatre, classical music, dance and jazz events through 2011. Highlights of this week's classical music and dance offerings are in Don Dagenais' "City Classics." For current Theatre listings visit Victor Wishna's "City Stage." Enjoy!
The reincarnation blues
For Christopher Durang, the neurotically-charged playwright of the Unicorn Theatre's lastest play Miss Witherspoon, the stage is a second home; his comedies put his characters in situations as absurd and frightening as an hour at a psychoanalyst's couch set up in a confessional.
KC Events this week and beyond
This week brings the continuation of lots of great seasonal theatre - check out the KCM reviews of "Miss Witherspoon," "Christmas Story. The Musical!," “A Christmas Spectacular," “A Taffeta Christmas,” “The Time of Your Life,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “Christmas in Song,” and “It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” as well as the other fine offerings on the KC Events calendar. Don Dagenais’ cover story gives a great synopsis of music and dance over the next week… check it all out!
A few honest moments of Christmas
In this day and age, it's difficult to find entertainment that truly touches the heart. "A Spectacular Christmas" presented by Musical Theatre Heritage may just be one of those rare gems.
KC Civic Opera revives a holiday favorite
The liturgical opera "The Wise Women" is billed as a mystery fable by Conrad Susa. In his own words, the composer describes it as “high church redesigned by the littlest angel.” There is a definite Anglican sensibility in the opera’s use of children, shepherds, angels and the holy family, but there is a twist. These wise women have voices, and they use them.
"A Christmas Story" has Broadway on its wish list
After the Kansas City Repertory Theatre's 29-year run of performing "A Christmas Carol," Eric Rosen, in only his 2nd full season as its artistic director, deserves a theatric medal of valor for breaking with three decades of tradition to stage this new musical.
Giving thanks for small blessings
In the Coterie Theatre's new production of "Little House on the Prairie," big questions are asked.
My heart finds Christmas
"This show is about light," says director J. Kent Barnhart. "And about Christmas, about all of the different meanings it has for each one of us."
Christmas is "On the Air" at AHT
Christmas lights and garland decorate the American Heartland Theatre lobby, leaving no doubt of the impending Holidays despite the warm November evening.
Taffeta for the Holidays
The Chestnut Fine Arts Center is presenting "A Taffeta Christmas." a musical revue that features Christmas songs and golden oldies.
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.